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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be annoyed by message about washing my car

430 replies

21summers · 13/04/2021 13:42

Neighbour has sent me a (second) message asking us when we’re going to wash our car. We ignored the first message.

It’s not muddy or dirty. The alloys are still silver. It’s just dusty because car washes have been closed for months. They’re good neighbours otherwise. AIBU to be irritated and to think I can decide when I want to wash my own car that’s doing nothing to them except sitting outside on the public road (and it’s not parked in front of their house, it’s parked in front of ours).

OP posts:
19thNamechange · 13/04/2021 21:10

I've had similar from my neighbour, only he said it to my face. He said that people look over at my car when they visit his house! I was so taken aback I didn't know what to say. I wish I'd told him to f off and mind his own business. My OP was painting our window frames and I heard my neighbour mutter "Oh my God, what is he doing now?" In an annoyed voice. It's our house, we can do what the f we like, as can our neighbour to his house. He seems to think he's in charge of the street. Arsehole.

FinallyHere · 13/04/2021 21:12

Oh, oh [waves hand frantically] I know the answer to this one, it's

Question "When are you going to ..."

Answer " No one knows the future with perfect certainty "

LittleBearPad · 13/04/2021 21:18

Extraordinary.

I’d take it somewhere very muddy OP and drive in all the puddles

numberoneson · 13/04/2021 21:46

@FinallyHere

Oh, oh [waves hand frantically] I know the answer to this one, it's

Question "When are you going to ..."

Answer " No one knows the future with perfect certainty "

I absolutely love this. I think you win the thread.
happinessischocolate · 13/04/2021 21:54

@serin

What is wrong with people? that is mental. One of our neighbours once offerred to show me how to hang my washing out neatly. She must have been hanging over our back fence to even see it, as its quite well hidden from view. I made sure I dressed the God awful statue of venus, that graces her front lawn, in one of my old bras and a bobble hat the following night
😂😂😂😂😂

That, I would love to see

longwayoff · 13/04/2021 23:09

You are not alone with your washing line. Ex's Scots granny saw I had pegged up my washing in THE WRONG ORDER. That is, whatever came to hand got pegged up by me. This was not only wrong but ALL THE NEIGHBOURS would see it and know me for the slattern that I am. She took it down and rearranged it, starting with smallest items and grading it upwards by size. Otherwise her reputation would have been ruined and it would have been MY FAULT.Hmm

masterofthechef · 13/04/2021 23:56

pretty sure my petty self would not have been sending random hobby type catalogues and brochures to a nearby address

Lalliella · 14/04/2021 00:16

This would cause me to drive through a muddy field on a wet day.

Justilou1 · 14/04/2021 03:06

I think you should botch up a fake legalese harrassment letter from the Police of the World

JeffTheOracle · 14/04/2021 03:23

Tell them youre thinking about changing your car and are mulling over whether brown really is the new black - hence the dust. Car is not yet the desired colour to be able to judge

Lupinhere37 · 14/04/2021 07:15

My brother in law did this to me once when I stayed at his house. Said my car was making their’s look dirty. Turns out he washes his cars every day. Mine had a an accumulation of dust from a four hour motorway trip on it; it is always washes weekly.
Three days I stayed. Three times the car was washedGrin

Lockdownbear · 14/04/2021 07:33

My friends Dad was like that his car was washed on a Sunday morning. If your car was in the drive it would get a wash too!

CeeceeBloomingdale · 14/04/2021 07:35

I never wash my car 🙈. I'd continue to ignore, how very odd.

KatherineOfGaunt · 14/04/2021 07:57

@WhoNeedsaManOfTheWorld

I once had my car stolen and, incredibly, found. Years ago, v old car The police apologised to me for the state the thief had left it in. I just kept quiet, all the rubbish inside was mineGrin
🤣🤣🤣
cricketmum84 · 14/04/2021 07:59

Oh wow!

We have a lovely gentleman next door who also objects to how dusty our car gets - we just don't have time to wash it! But he just washes ours whenever he does his rather than whinging at us. He also mows our front lawn whenever he does his. Doesn't even ask.... I got a shock the first time I saw him outside the window but I'm used to it now. We always drop off a couple of beers or some homemade cake on his doorstep afterwards.

BrownEyedGirl80 · 14/04/2021 08:06

@cricketmum84 I'd love this! I might suggest it to the neighbours Grin

ceilingsand · 14/04/2021 08:11

We used to have a lovely neighbour who was always hinting I should replace mine, and who always commented on another person's car too. I just ignored it. She was one of those people who think appearances are important, and that you should replace your car with a brand new (fashionable) model every 3 years. And clean it weekly 😄-or at least, your husband should, as that was a mans job.

Oldraver · 14/04/2021 08:20

We go to the New Forest every year. The cat comes back looking like it's been on a Saharan rally

I'd be taking my car for a spin to get it more dusty

We have two types in our street who make pointed comments along the lines of how things look. Tedious

Quincie · 14/04/2021 08:24

Just tell them you're doing it as soon as - people are so petty 'how dare they' bla bla bla - what a cheek!!!!

Whats wrong with being nice to people but no - let's be dfiant - we'll show them even though theyre the neighbours you need to get on reasonably with for a pleasant life.

Anycrispsleft · 14/04/2021 08:26

Can you just write "when hell freezes over" in the dust on your car, on the side that faces your neighbours?

LakieLady · 14/04/2021 08:31

I wish she was my neighbour. I don't think my car has had a wash for close on 2 years. I think it must have self-cleaning glass, because I can see fine out of all the windows, which is all that concerns me.

I don't give a shit if it doesn't get washed for another 2 years, either.

FixTheBone · 14/04/2021 08:37

You're not in one of these heinous closed communities are you? Where the neighborhood committee monitor the length of the grass and the colour of the flowers to keep everything 'idyllic'?

Hophopandaway · 14/04/2021 08:41

I can see your point and i would say you are not being unreasonable however this just highlights the general lack of care of modern Britain. people have just lost standards, I accept of you are disabled washing the car may be beyond someone however in the 80's I remember everyone washing their car each weekend in my estate and in the 60's when having a car was much rarer the pride in ownership caused them to be washed weekly. And actually get a cheeky smile from "I wish my wife was as dirty as this" scrawled in the mud on the back as a subtle reminder the car probably needs a clean. Really a filthy car is like having a filthy garden, or not showering or brushing ones hair. Also cars that are barely cleaned are often those maintained worse as people pay less attention to them. So no it was a bit much recieving a message however having a dirty car is like wearing unpolished shoes just not great standards and for a lot of people they will judge people for it.

fairydustandpixies · 14/04/2021 08:42

Haha! Do you want to borrow my car? It's not been washed for two years as is held together with duct tape. Now THAT would give them something to really moan about and they'd think your car showroom ready!!

m0therofdragons · 14/04/2021 08:50

@Hophopandaway I think it’s an issue with how much people drive - we’re in the West Country and even we was the car, one trip to work it’s filthy again. Saharan and has coated ours so we did go to the car wash but it’s a twice yearly activity in our house. In the 60s-80s car washing was essential due to cars tenancy to rust.